Five safe driving tips for when you’re being tailgated

If you’ve ever been tailgated, then you know how simultaneously scary and aggravating it can be. Tailgating is when someone is driving too closely to the back of your car because they want you to either go faster or get out of their way. It’s an aggressive and dangerous tactic, and more often than not leads to collisions and accidents. Think about it – if you have to come to a sudden stop and they’re driving too close to the back of your car, it’s more likely than not that they won’t be able to stop quickly and will hit you.

What safe driving tactics should you use when someone is tailgating you?

Tailgating is a dangerous situation to be in, and that’s why the experts here at Toyota of Clermont have put together a quick list of safe driving tips on how you should react when you find yourself in it.

Tip #1: Don’t panic (or get really mad). It’s easy to panic when someone is literally almost touching your bumper – what if they run into you? It’s also easy to get angry (they’re rude). But you should try to maintain your calm in this situation so you can get yourself and your car safely out of it. Focus on the task at hand – getting out of their way so they can go around and harass someone else.

Tip #2: Don’t speed up just to appease them. Don’t feel like you have to put the pedal to the metal to appease someone who’s tailgating you. If you’re going the speed limit, stick to it! It’s there for a reason – to keep all drivers on the road safe. Let the other driver go around you; you shouldn’t have to drive at a speed that you’re uncomfortable with just to make them happy. However, you should remember that it’s frowned upon to drive in the left land and prevent people from passing, so if you are, move your Clermont Toyota over.

Tip #3: Gently tap your brakes. Sometimes people tailgate without even meaning to because they’re distracted. A good way to ask them politely to back off is to let them see your brake lights. You can gently tap your brakes to get the lights to illuminate and alert the person behind you to back off. However, resist the urge to brake check people. This is when you slam on your brakes to scare them – it’s very unsafe and can result in them running into the back of your Clermont Toyota.

Tip #4: Move out of the lane and let them go around you. An easy way to get rid of a tailgater while still employing safe driving is to just get out of the way. If you’re on a multi-lane road, scoot over and let them pass. Be sure to move at a safe speed and use your turn signals to indicate your movements.

Tip #5: Don’t get mad. Tailgaters can be infuriating, we know. But road rage is a real thing and you don’t want to end up in an accident because you were rude to an aggressive driver. Plus, when you’re rude, it takes your mind off the task at hand… safe driving.

Visit Toyota of Clermont for more safe driving tips!

If you need more safe driving tips, we’re your go-to. Stop by Toyota of Clermont at 16851 State Road 50 just west of the Florida Turnpike, follow us on social media, or call us! We’re open seven days a week at (352) 404-7000.

 

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